Cominsky status uncertain as second video surfaces

Hamburg principal Chris Spohn confirmed today that quarterback Joey Cominsky continues to practice with the football team but would say little else about his disciplinary situation or status for Friday's game against Fleetwood.

A statement from superintendent Steven Keifer, regarding a video showing Cominsky throwing a football into the stomach of a teammate during an indoor practice session, was released today.

That video was broadcast by a Philadelphia television station late Tuesday.

Cominsky sat out last week, according to PIAA rules, following his suspension from a Week 2 game against Annville-Cleona when he was ejected after striking an opposing player on the head with a helmet.

Spohn would only say that the school district is following the disciplinary policies outlined in Hamburg's "Student Agenda" and "Athletic Handbook" and directed the Reading Eagle to the school website.

Cominsky's on-field actions appear to fall under the school's definition of a Level III offense, which includes fighting.

In that case, he could be suspended from athletic participation for up to one week for a first offense or up to four weeks for a second offense.

Among the Level IV offenses are "major physical assault," which calls for dismissal from the team. Since Cominsky remains with the team, the school did not consider the helmet-swinging incident a "major physical assault."

The latest video, taken by a former Hamburg player, has added more fuel to the controversy.

The video was taken by Dalton Hoagland, who played at Hamburg last season before transferring to Berks Catholic.

Hamburg officials refused to sign off on the transfer, and the District 3 Committee ruled in the summer that he is ineligible to play football at Berks Catholic this season.

Spohn said he was limited in what he could say publicly about the incident at Annville-Cleona because of an ongoing police investigation and possible criminal charges against Cominsky.

"The kid who is most at risk here is Joe Cominsky, because of what the Lebanon County District Attorney has chosen to do," Spohn said.

Athletic director Aaron Menapace, head football coach Joe Sinkovich and two Hamburg players were not permitted to discuss Cominsky's situation when a Reading Eagle reporter visited the school campus Tuesday. Spohn called that a team, and not an administrative, decision.

No one from the Hamburg school district has made a public statement decrying Cominsky's on-field actions, and Spohn said no such statement is planned.

"We are confident that our community believes we are doing what's best for our kids," Spohn said, "and that's who we're beholden to. We have a responsibility to our community. As for all of the stupid emails and rude comments I've received from people across the country, I owe them nothing."